IVF Disrupted: The Kindbody Story The Fertility Spa
Sep 29, 2025
Gina Bartesi, Founder and former CEO of Kindbody, discusses her vision to revolutionize fertility care with a spa-like approach. She shares insights on the aggressive expansion of Kindbody, branding it as a 'rocket ship' in the industry. The conversation reveals the clash between startup culture and the sensitive nature of fertility treatments. Former employees and patients share their mixed experiences, including operational shortcomings and emotional journeys through IVF, highlighting the complexities of scaling such a personal service.
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The Rocket Ship Ambition
- Gina Bartesi described Kindbody as a 'rocket ship' with plans for rapid national expansion and consumer-focused clinics.
- The company secured big contracts and a $1.8 billion valuation as it prepared for an IPO.
Reporting Reveals Systemic Weaknesses
- Bloomberg reporting found systemic issues by interviewing over 100 employees and 50 patients and reviewing internal documents.
- Public relations and investor enthusiasm masked operational weaknesses that surfaced with scale.
Startup Speed vs. Medical Risk
- Kindbody applied a Silicon Valley 'move fast' playbook to high-stakes fertility care, exposing risks when speed outpaces safety.
- Rapid expansion magnified small operational gaps into serious patient harms and trust failures.